Lord mayor 'baffled' by superyacht conflict with Brisbane bridge plans

A planned pedestrian bridge linking Kangaroo Point to the City Botanic Gardens will need to be redesigned if the state government goes ahead with a superyacht docking trial.

A fight between City Hall and the state government was sparked on Wednesday after Brisbane Times revealed a trial in the works would allow superyachts to dock below the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

The proposed bridge would connect Alice and Edward streets and Scott Street or Thornton Street.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner had previously announced plans for a $190 million cycling and pedestrian bridge to span that section of the Brisbane River.

He said the size of superyachts would require the bridge to be built higher than the Captain Cook Bridge, which would increase its footprint and make construction more expensive.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said if the proposed bridge blocked yachts from cruising down the river, it would need to be redesigned.

"We want the $600 million superyacht industry to access as many parts of Brisbane as possible, to boost tourism and jobs for Queenslanders," he said.

A pedestrian bridge has been proposed at Kangaroo Point.Credit: Richard Kirk Architect

"This has been raised with Brisbane City Council and we understand there have been constructive discussions between council and the department."

Cr Schrinner on Wednesday said the council had repeatedly expressed reservations about the potential for a superyacht berth at Kangaroo Point and he believed there were better locations.

The mayor said it was "extraordinary" the state had announced the trial, given the bridge's business case had been partially funded by the state government, giving council $230,000.

"For them to now come out and say 'the bridge is not as important as billionaires and their superyachts' is quite baffling," he said.

The lord mayor suggested superyachts could more feasibly berth at Howard Smith Wharves or elsewhere along the Kangaroo Point area without affecting the planned location or height of the bridge.

"It's a big river, there are multiple locations, but for some reason they have selected a site which jeopardises a council infrastructure project which will provide great benefits for the people of Brisbane," Cr Schrinner said.

But Mr Dick said the mayor's bridges "exist only in his mind and in his ratepayer-funded brochures and leaflets".

"It will cost nothing to adjust them to make room for the jobs and economic opportunities that superyachts will bring."

The council is also expecting the state government to contribute financially to the cost of the planned five green bridges citywide, including the Kangaroo Point Bridge.

Cr Schrinner announced last year that $550 million would be budgeted for the five bridges at Kangaroo Point, Bellbowrie, Breakfast Creek and West End and UQ, but said at the time state funding would be needed.

Cr Schrinner said if the state did not contribute, the council would use the $550 million to build as many bridges as possible within budget.

"Our approach is that while we would like to get support from other levels of government ... we want to get cracking on building these bridges as quickly as possible," he said.